Indivisible NY 2018 Meeting

*(If you are in a rush, skip directly to the ACTION ITEMS below)

Hi, Michelle here. Yesterday I traveled up to Albany to meet with other NYS Indivisible leaders to discuss our goals for 2018. My brain is full, and I took copious notes. It will take a few blog posts to get it all out to you, as I digest and research.

I learned a few interesting facts:

There are over 6000 !!!! Indivisible Groups Nationwide, and 600 (wow) in New York State alone.

NY State Indivisible has a great reputation with the Indivisible National Team. New York is considered one of the most important states for driving advocacy and policy. As a result, New York will be a leader in the electoral work in 2018, and we have many important swing districts to flip.

NY State is getting started earlier than most other states, which is excellent. However, we are a key state to flipping the House in the federal election, and we have state level challenges, such as the IDC (more on that later).

ELECTORAL WORK means getting Dems into seats on all levels in 2018 and subsequent elections, and this will be one of the main focuses of Indivisible this year. This push is called “Indivisible 435”. The national organization wants to support each group in each district, instead of just focusing on “key” districts. The goal for us is an entirely Blue New York, and we have a big part to play in that. (Here’s a fun Interactive electoral map to learn about districts)

Indivisible 435 website is the hub for all electoral work nationwide. (There are 435 congressional districts nationwide, hence the name). It has tool kits and guides for local and state elections, voter registration guides, endorsement, canvassing, and phone banking.

National Indivisible is a 501 C4 and cannot get directly involved with individual campaigns. There won’t be any “party leaders” telling us what to do. We have to make the effort to use the tools they provide, and do what we can in our region. We have to be the change we want to see.